Maneuver Center of Excellence (MCoE) Libraries MCoE HQ Donovan Research Library Fort Benning, Georgia Report date: 31 May1944 Title: Operation Neptune-Bigot Author: Headquarters IX Troop Carrier Command Abstract: This report is Field Order No. 1 on the troop carrier phase of Operation Neptune-Bigot with the 82nd Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne Division. Number of pages: 8 p. Notes: From the MCoE HQ Donovan Research Library, Fort Benning, GA. Documents collection. Call #: D767.6 .U5509 Classification: Unclassified; Approved for public release ID1767.o6 FO #1 NEPTUNE-BIGOT .U 5O9 dU L 44..odot. 44 * / C--6Z- A6 / DECLASSIFIED. DOD DIR 5200. 9 COPY !Io. U8 Hq.IX TCC REG.a NO. 74ew-m4 NEPTUNE - BIGOT 31APO May 133 1944 1200 Hours F 01 MAPS: CODE KA-GSGS-4369 SCALE 1:500,000 The Border Midlands and Wales, Southwest E±igland, North Sea, Strait of Dover. CODE AF-GSGS-4072 SCAIE 1:500,000 Le Havre, Paris, Brest, Nantes and Dijon, Midlands, East Anglia, England Southwest, Ehgland Southeast, England South. CODE AB-GSGS-3982 SCALE 1:250,000 Channel Islands, Brest, Lannion, Cherbourg, Rennes, Rouen, Boulogne, Chartes. CODE CA-GSGS-3957 SCALE , to 1 mile England East, North Wales and North Midlands and Lincolnshire, South Wales. For Map details see Annex No. 1. REFERENCES: Air Ministry Confidential Order (AMCO) A 45/1944 (Air,-Sea Rescue Procedure) SD 158,.'British Air Ministry SD 533, British Air Ministry 1. a. See Annex No. 1. b. Allied Forces. (1) Air - U. S. Air Forces assigned.to the operatioi are the Eighth Air Force and the Ninth Air Force. The Royal Air Force units participating are Bomber Command, 2nd TAF, ADGB, Coastal Command and Transport Command. The following tasks of these forces will be accomplished in connection with Troop Carrier operationsa (a) Neutralization of enemy anti-aircraft positions and search- light batteries. (b) Maintenance of adequate night fighter cover, (c) Provide Intruders to precede Troop Carrier formations across beaches and over DZs., (d) Day fighter escort. (e) Radio Counter Measures (Diversion Tactics). (2) Ground. (a) Allied Armies will assault the Continent in order to secure a bridgehead at the base of the COTENTIN PENINSULA, to develop airfield sites in the CARENTAN-CAEN area, and secure a lodgement for further operations. (b) The U.S. 101st Airborne Division will begin landing approxi- mately four hours and thirty minutes prior to Civil Twilight morning of D Day to assist the Fourth Division in the ini- tial assault and capture the town of CARENTAN. (c) The U.S. 82nd Airborne Division will land to the immediate west of the 101st Airborne Division for the purpose of pre- venting movement of enemy reserves to the East and North. (3) Naval- The Allied Navies will transport and support the assault and follow-'up forces. DECLASSIFEo. NEPTUNE - BIGOT DOD DIR 5200. 9 -1- 4U NEPTUNE- BIGOT (a) Troop Carrier Corridors over Naval formations will be marked by ships equipped with appropriate Troop Carrier navigational Aids. * 2. The IX Troop Carrier Command will transport and re-supply parachute and glider elements of the 82nd Airborne Division and 101st Airborne Division (See Air Movement Tables, Appendix A), and will be prepared to transport elements of the British 1st Airborne Division as directed. a. D Day: To be announced by officer courier. b. Routes: Command corridors have been established to permit coordina- tion and identification with Naval and other forces, and will be adhered to. (See Appendices B and C) c. Command Assembly Point: ELKO - 1500 feet M.S.L. d. Command Departure Point: FLATBUSHa- 1000 feet M.S.L. e. Altitudes: (1) Over water outbound: 500 feet M.S.L, (2) .P.- 1500 feet M.S.L. (3) Drop Zones 700 feet M.SL. (4) Drop Zones to GALLUP 100 feet M.S.L. climbing to 3000 feet prior to crossing GALLUP (5) GALLUP to ELKO 3000 feet M.S.L. f. Command decision to postpone, cancel or alter the mission may be announced any time prior to DZ time. g. Special instructions for all missions after Serial 28 are contained in par. 3, 3. a. The IX Troop Carrier Command Pathfinder School will transport Serials 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 as scheduled in Air Movement Table (Appendix A). (1) Command Corridor will be adhered to between ELKO - GALLUP. SFlights will avoid altitudes which will beocuidbtrp carrying serials. (2) All available aids to navigation will be utilized. (3) Approach to DZs: Over western beaches. (4) Departure from DZs: Over eastern beaches. (5) One (1) ship from each flight will land at Northolt and report immediately to the Commanding General at EASTCOTE. b, The 53rd Troop Carrier Wing will transport Serials 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 as wcheduled in Air Movement Table, Missions "ALBANY", t"CHICAGO",, "DETROIT 11, "KEOKUCK", and "ELMIRA". (See Appendix A). * (1) Serials 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35 will be routed ELKO- FLATBUSH - GALLUP - SPOKANE - PADUCAH - LZ - PADUCAH - SPOKN4E- GALLUP- FLATBUSH. DECLASSIFNEEB- DOD DIR 52006.9 O-NEPTUNE2- • • 1 6,,,2w . NEPTUNE- BIGOT (a) Altitude: GALLUP - LZ: 500 feet M.S.L. LZ - SPOKANE: below 500 feet M.S.L. SPOKANE - GALLUP: below 500 feet M.S.L.: climbing to cross GALLUP at 3000 feet M.S.L. (b) Ropes will be dropped immediately after clearing LZ area. (2) Two (2) Groups will hold fifty (50) tugs and fifty (50) Horsa gliders'each alerted for operations on and after D plus 5. Details to be announced by amendment. Two (2) airdromes, in addition, will be held available for use by another Wing for the same period. c. The 50th Troop Carrier Wing will transport Serials ll, 12, 14, 15, 16, 36, 37, 42, and 43 as scheduled in Air Movement Table, Missions ALBANY, HACKENSACK, AND MEMPHIS. (See Appendix A) (1) Serials 36 and 37 will be routed ELKO - FLATBUSH - GALLUP - SPOKANE - PADUCAH LZ - PADUCAH - SPOKANE - GALLUP - FLATBUSH. (a) Altitude: GALLOP - :LZ600 feet M.S.L. LZ - GALLOP:- below 500 feet M.S.L. (b) Ropes will be dropped immediately after clearing LZ areas. (2) Serials 42 and 43 are "On Call", but will be set-up to be flown as scheduled. (a) Route out: ELKO - FLATBUSH - GALLUP - SPOKANE - PADUCAH - DZ at 500 feet M.S.L. (b) Route back: DZ - PADUCAHa- SPOKANE'- GALLUP - below 500 feet M.S.L, (3) Upon completion of Mission "BOSTON", operation control of the 442nd Troop Carrier Group will revert to the 50th Troop Carrier Wing. The Group will remain based at FULBECK. (4) Two (2) Groups of fifty (50) aircraft and fifty (50) glider crews each will be alerted for operation on and after D plus 5 for a glider mission to be launched from the GRE ENHAM COMMON area. Details to be announced by amendment. d, The 52nd Troop Carrier Wing will transport Serials 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 38, 39, 40 and 41 as scheduled in Air Movement Table, Missions "BOSTON" and "FREEPORT". (See Appendix A) (1) Serials 38, 39, 40 and 41 are automatic, but subject to cancel- lation if not required. (a) Route out: ELKO - FLATBUSH - GALLUP - SPOKANE - PADUCAH DZ at 500 feet M.S.L. (b) Route back: DZ - PADUCAH - SPOKANE - GALLUP - below 500 feet M.S.L. (c) A BUPS beacon coded 1/2 will be installed on DZ "0" for these serials. (2) Upon completion of Mission "BOSTON" operational control of the 442nd Troop Carrier Group will be released to the 50th Troop Carrier Wing. DECLASSi ,L. DOD DIR 5201 9 NEPT -3-- 8G NEPTUNE - BIGOT (3) Two (2) Groups will be alerted for a six (6) hour "On Call" mission after 1200 hours, D plus 1, for a mission with the British 1st Airborne Division. Details to be announced by amendment. (4) Five (5) Groups vwll be alerted from D plus 5 for a mission with the British Ist Airborne Division. Details to be announced by amendment. x. (1) Payloads. Paratroop a/c: 5850 lbs maximum which includes the weight of containers and parachutes. Glider tug a/c: No load. Horsa gliders: 6900 lbs maximum to include the weight of life rafts. CG-4A gliders: 3750 lbs maximum exclusive of weight of life rafts. (2) Four to six bundles will be carried on pararacks of paratroop a/c only. No pararacks will be installed on 7170 a/c (3) Load manifests will be completely filled in to include name, rank and serial number of all crew members and passengers on board. (4) Speeds and timing: Schedules for this operation have been based on indicated air speeds as follows: Pathfinder a/c 150 mph Paratroop a/c enroute - 140 mph Glider towing a/c - 120 mph Returning a/c 150 mph Parachute drop speed not to exceed 110 mph Parachute serials are-spaced six (6) minutes head to head with a ten (10) minute interval between division lifts. Glider serials are spaced ten (10) minutes head to head. Fortimiing of various serials over various route points based on above data, see Appen- dices Dl and D3. (5) Formations: Paratroop and resupply - Column of 9-ship V of V's Glider - Pair of pairs echeloned to rt. (6) Standard altimeter setting and corrected departure point time will be announced at 2000 hours D-l. (7) Recall of a/c enroute will be accomplished over command liaison frequencies, in accordance with instructions contained in Signal Annex. (See Annex No. 3). Upon receipt of recall, serials will ex- ecute 180 degree turn to the left, climb to 3000 ft and return to base.